Tiramisu Cupcakes

I have to tell you about my preceptor. He's the most selfless human I know. Last fall we had a patient who was discharged from our service after she had a bone marrow transplant. She left without her anti-rejection medication because it wasn't getting filled quickly enough at our hospital pharmacy. He found out about this and coordinated getting the medication filled and then drove to her home to deliver it. The thing was, he drove to Wellsboro from Danville to do this. Wellsboro is 1.5 hours away, so 3 hours out of his way and of course this was on a Friday. This is but one of the many selfless things this man does.

My coworker and I decided that he needed recognition for this and decided to nominate him for employee of the month and a special recognition. After months of hearing nothing, he finally gets recognized at our staff meeting this week, with a sticker. Boo. So I decided that I was going to make my own recognition party by making these Tiramisu Cupcakes I recently found through one of the blogs I follow. Who wouldn't want a coffee flavored cupcake? Plus these were sooo good!! I think that I would use this frosting again for other desserts, delicious!!

Tiramisu Cupcakes (adapted from Debbiessweets)

• • yellow cake mix (and ingredients as listed on box)
  • 1 cup brewed coffee

• Mascarpone Cheese Icing

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 8 oz. package of mascarpone cheese
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • cocoa for dusting
  • bittersweet chocolate shavings for garnish

• 1. Bake cake mix into cupcakes per instructions on box. Line cupcakes with foil liners.
  2. As cupcakes are cooling make coffee
  3. Next, using a skewer, poke holes into the cupcakes. Be sure to poke several holes so the coffee absorbs. Use a spoon to pour a teaspoon sized spoon of coffee onto each cupcake, one at a time, and repeat the process until the cup of coffee was gone.
  4. While the cupcakes are soaking up the coffee, make the icing. Using an electric mixer, beat heavy cream until it forms stiff peaks. In a separate bowl, beat together mascarpone cheese and sugar. Once the mixture if fully creamed together, add the whipped cream in three increments, beating until completely incorporated at each interval.
  5. Ice cupcakes using a piping bag or a food storage bag. Dust top with cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate shavings for garnish
   

Cupcake stabbing device, called an onion friend

 I was lucky enough to be able to make these in my friend Patty's kitchen. Cooking is always more fun when it is with friends! We laughed all afternoon and baked up a storm! We also had great Middle Eastern dinner from a place in Williamsport called Crown Fried Chicken (don't let the name fool you, this is THE place for shwarma, gyros and felafel). Everyone should go there!! The only problem is that this place is really a take out joint, so it would be a little hard for me to go there often. They do deliver and they said they would deliver to Danville for $40...anyone wanna make an order??

cupcake quality control, Laila